PHRASAL VERBS AND IDIOMS LESSON 1

George had problems with studying, so he wrote to a magazine problem page for advice. Find
out what his problems are and tell your partner about four of them.
Dear Marjorie,
Im having problems with my studies at school. I find it difficult to her down to work in the
evenings and I cant concentrate on anything at the moment. I spend most of my time listening to
records or watching TV instead of doing my homework. The other students in my class are much
better than I am and I have difficulty in keeping up with them. I sometimes have problems with
following the lessons as well. I cant always take down the important things my teacher says
because I write so slowly. She has told me that Im falling behind with my studies. Im not good
at writing essays and I usually hand in my homework late because I put off doing it until the last
minute. So I often have to invent silly excuses to explain why I havent done the work.
Im sure Im not going to get through my final exams in June. I scraped through the mock exams
last February with 54% - all the other students passed with flying colours. Im now so far behind
that I dont know how Im going to catch up with them. My teacher spent some time going
through my homework with me but she found so many mistakes that I felt even more depressed.
What do you suggest I do?
Yours desperately,

George
rge

Underline the multiple-word verbs in the letter and find out what they mean.
I.

Match the multiple-word verbs in A with the definition in B

A
B
1. to get down to do something
a. to be behind with something, not at the
2. to keep up with
level expected
someone/something
b. to start work on something
3. to take something down
c. to postpone, to decide to do something at a
4. to fall behind (with something)
later date
5. to hand something in
d. to pass an exam or test
6. to put something of
e. to check that something is correct, to
7. to get through (something)
examine smt
8. to scrape through (something)
f. to reach the same standard or position as
9. to catch up (with
someone else
someone/something)
g. to give something to someone in a position
10. to go through something
of authority
h. to remain at the same standard or position
as someone else.
i. to record in writing what someone is saying

j. to pass an exam but with a very low grade

II.

Rewrite the following sentences without changing their meaning, using the multipleword verbs in exercise I

1.
Can I give you my homework tomorrow?
______________________________________________________________________
2.
Can you check my homework to see if there are any mistakes?
______________________________________________________________________
3.
Could we postpone our meeting until tomorrow?
______________________________________________________________________
4.
I must begin work.
______________________________________________________________________
5.
I didnt pass the exam.
______________________________________________________________________
6.
I passed my history exam with only 54%
______________________________________________________________________
7.
Can I write down your name and address?
______________________________________________________________________
8.
Shes remaining at the same level as the other students in her class
______________________________________________________________________
9.
Everyone in my class is making progress with their studies, but Im getting worse
and worse.
______________________________________________________________________
10. I must try to reach the same level as the other students in my class
______________________________________________________________________

Look at the expressions in italics and work out what they mean

Write the idiomatic expression in each picture below.

Fill in with multiple-word verbs

Advice on doing exams
Many people dont ________ their exams or
only manage to ________ them with a very
low grade because they make two simple
mistakes: they often choose the wrong
questions to answer and they dont plan their
essays in sufficient detail. So here is some
advice.
1. When you get your exam paper, ________
all the questions before you choose which
ones you want to answer.
2. when you have done this, ________ on a
spare piece of paper any relevant ideas that
come to your mind.
3. Next, ________ what you want to say in
your essay before you begin writing.
4. Make a plan and then start your essay
This advice does not guarantee you will
________ all your exams without any
difficulties at all, but it will help you to avoid
making major mistakes